Emmett's Letter

​The outpouring of love over the past weeks has given me much needed strength. The letters, packages, notes, prayers, thoughts have been quite overwhelming. I certainly did not realize the brevity and depth that my father's life played in so many of yours. I wish, through this email, to express some of my recent thoughts and feelings.

Many of the questions/ word of comfort I receive, either through email or in person, tend to denote 2 commonalities. The first, trying to figure out my current emotional state? and second, what can my role be in helping you?

Number 1. "If thou art called to pass through tribulation...know...that all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good" (DC 122: 5-7) This scriptures has been a rock for me, and it can be for you too. Someone recently told me that life is more of a classroom than an exam room. The purpose of a classroom is to acquire knowledge, through experience and practice. Take this idea to our earthly classroom- we go through experiences to learn something. Currently, I am learning to have the courage to accept God's will. I may not understand the exact reason why my father passed away at a young age, but I have the faith and hope that I will in the future. For now my trust is in God.

I drew that conclusion as an answer to overcome my inner, spiritual sadness. Now to help me in an everyday sense, this scripture sums up what I now understand about how to act. "Therefore, dearly beloved brethren, let us cheerfully do all things that lie in our power; and then may we stand still, with the utmost assurance, to see the salvation of God, and for his arm to be revealed" (DC 123:17). Ok team, it's time for some application! As the scripture says we must do, meaning we live the way Christ lived, obey, and press on with our lives. We do not sulk in surface level sadness because of a mistake or circumstance that we can not change. God's will is perfect. Often in the scriptures we read the words, "be of good cheer". That phrase does not always mean 'put on a smile Elder Madsen!' But rather it is a phrase used by Heavenly Father to remind us to have hope, validate your faith, or learn perspective. My spirits are high from this knowledge! This is my current state- Trusting God, learning perspective, and continuing to say YES to life!

Number 2. In my current capacity in the mission field, I often receive phone calls of others asking for explanations about certain rules. A week after learning of my fathers death, a rather frustrated sister asked me, "Elder Madsen, I just don't see why I can't chat with my family! Emailing back and fourth once a week is annoying and not enough..." As I reflected on this conversation, my mind was immediately pulled to feel sorrow- sorrow that I can't email with my father anymore, no more weekly letters, no more texts, pictures, promises, or principles will be received through physical interactions. That capacity is gone. A normal night turned into a tearful evening as my mind was brought to a place of disappointment, anger, and self-pity. A nights past and I had a choice to live everything I just explained or continue being sad.

I think Maddog himself would say the worst way to help a situation is by complaining. Complaining gets me and you and everyone else no where. The best way to help me is by expressing your gratitude for life, a new motto you're adopting, a perspective learned from your trial and how you've lived it, positivism and pro-activeness in conquering life! Stop obsessing about the cards life's given you, but enjoy and share what you've done with those cards!